Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the December 2012 Employment Situation report:

"December's report marks 34 straight months of private sector job growth, which have added close to 5.8 million jobs. For nearly three years, steady gains have occurred across different sectors of the economy, and December finishes a strong year of consistent growth with average increases of about 160,000 private sector jobs per month in 2012.

"The economy continued to show signs of strength and resilience throughout a month of fiscal uncertainty. This week's bipartisan agreement extending tax cuts to protect 98 percent of families and 97 percent of small businesses from any income tax increase is an important step in the right direction, as is the extension of crucial Unemployment Insurance benefits that serve as a necessary lifeline for millions of Americans still struggling to find employment, as well as generate $2 in economic activity for each dollar spent.   

"There is more work to do to ensure that the steady growth experienced in 2012 continues into the new year. Now is not the time to slow this recovery by failing to address our fiscal challenges and introducing further uncertainty into the economy. As we move forward to address our ongoing fiscal challenges, both spending cuts and continuing to ask the wealthy to do a little more will be part of a balanced approach.We must continue to grow our economy, create jobs and strengthen our middle class by making investments in training, education and infrastructure."

Kathy Bostjancic, Director of Macroeconomic Analysis, The Conference Board:

With a gain of 155,000 jobs in December, the employment situation continues to improve despite slower output growth in Q4 2012 that will likely persist through the first half of 2013. The current moderate pace of hiring could be sustainable if companies believe that economic growth is poised to accelerate a bit in the second half of the year as the fiscal drag wanes and the housing recovery strengthens. The key to boosting the labor market is stronger demand – a task made slightly more difficult with new higher withholding rates. Additional uncertainty surrounding the next round of political wrangling over the fiscal budget also leads businesses to be hesitant in hiring new workers. Weakened business and consumer confidence doesn't bode well for any acceleration in the hiring trend.